Goodbye Solo

R

Released Mar 27, 2009

1h 31m

Comedy

Drama

List

94%

Tomatometer

108 Reviews

82%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Solo (Souléymane Sy Savané) is a Senegalese cab driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, working hard to provide for his wife and child. When he picks up William (Red West), an old man with seemingly nothing left to live for, Solo makes it his personal mission to convince William that life is worth living, despite William's insistence that he just wants to be left alone. As they reveal more of their lives, both men realize they need each other more than either is willing to admit.

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Critics Consensus

An original and thoughtful human drama, Goodbye Solo looks at relationships and loneliness while proving director Ramin Bahrani's is an important American voice.

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Nicolas Rapold

Film Comment Magazine

Goodbye Solo relies on forced character dynamics and two clunkily directed, monotonous turns, in a milieu...that fails to take satisfactory shape.

Oct 20, 2014

Full Review

Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Rated: 3/4

Nov 24, 2011

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Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 18, 2011

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Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

An unforgettable mountaintop experience that touches the heart and makes the spirit soar.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 6, 2019

Full Review

Kelly Jane Torrance

Washington Times

The young independent filmmaker Ramin Bahrani has crafted a careful and subtle movie about both the promise and despair of life that's told mainly in the faces of its two very different leads.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 7, 2018

Full Review

Sarah Manvel

Critic's Notebook

Although there's a lot in this movie by which to be impressed, there is still something missing. The main trouble is that Solo was very hard to believe - maybe even too good to be true.

Aug 9, 2018

Full Review

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John A

Both Solo and William did Strong acting specially from William (Red West). Although the story wasn't impressive there's wasn't strong duologues specially Williams had seen his whole and must had a great experience to share at the end of his journey but he couldn't speak or Maybe there was nothing left to say. This movie is about hope and despair well both did well at the end despairity win. I gave .3 marks because of poor writing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

isla s

I thought this was a slightly bland film but it became quite poignant by the end. There are unanswered questions by the end but there's some substance to it too. Not a bad watch. I think it was the subtlety of the ending that managed to move me. The taxi driver character, Solo, is very talkative, if anything in an over the top way, which may bother some but its this contrast with him talking quite urban talk, quite informally, while the other character, William, is clearly in a bit of personal bother, being quite serious and in a low state of mind, not wanting to reveal too much about his life. Yes, I'd recommend this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So...the lead actor was very good. Gave some immersive insight into the life of an immigrant. a good indie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Really great story, love Solos attitude. I'd give it five stars if we learned a little more about William and his family. I hope things worked out well for Solo despite the troubles he faced.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wow, so glad I stumbled upon this one during a trailer. Very touching story, would recommend to anyone.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Goodbye Solo was perplexing, like I can't decide whether I really liked it or not. The film is extremely simplistic in its approach, and is very simply shot. The characters are very believable, usually spouting unremarkable dialogue that emulates the conversation between two people. Savane and West do a good job of sticking to the plan. The film moves slowly, but the last quarter is pretty wrenching, and that's what Goodbye Solo is going for.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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Ramin Bahrani

Director

Souléymane Sy Savané

Solo

Red West

William

Diana Franco Galindo

Alex

Lane 'Roc' Williams

Roc

Mamadou Lam

Mamadou

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Synopsis

Solo (Souléymane Sy Savané) is a Senegalese cab driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, working hard to provide for his wife and child. When he picks up William (Red West), an old man with seemingly nothing left to live for, Solo makes it his personal mission to convince William that life is worth living, despite William's insistence that he just wants to be left alone. As they reveal more of their lives, both men realize they need each other more than either is willing to admit.

Director: Ramin Bahrani
Producer: Brian Devine, Brooke Devine
Screenwriter: Bahareh Azimi, Ramin Bahrani
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: Gigantic Pictures, Lucky Hat Entertainment, ITVS International
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 27, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $871.3K
Runtime: 1h 31m

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